Self-harm is a growing problem among teenagers. One in six teens inflict self-harm, according to a new study. The study, conducted by the University of Michigan, found that self-harm is more common among girls than boys.

The study surveyed nearly 2,000 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19. Participants were asked about their mental health, whether they had ever harmed themselves, and if so, how often.

Of the teens surveyed, 16 percent said they had harmed themselves at some point. Of those who had harmed themselves, nearly half said they had done so more than once.

Girls were more likely than boys to self-harm. Twenty percent of girls surveyed said they had harmed themselves, compared to 11 percent of boys.

The study did not ask why teens were harming themselves, but previous research has suggested that self-harm can be a way to cope with difficult emotions. It can also be a way to express anger or frustration.

Self-harm is often a sign of underlying mental health problems. If you are harming yourself, it is important to get help from a mental health professional.

If your teen is harming themselves, it is important to get help from a mental health professional. You can also use parental control software like Smart Protect to monitor your teen's internet use and help prevent them from accessing harmful content.

Confessions of a luddite mom: or, how my secret weapon has taught me well

Okay, okay, I know I’m mixing metaphors or what have you in my title, but you trying living with a Smug Teen.

It’s hard out there when your knowledge of technology reaches its limits with knowing how to program the VCR , being able to turn on and off your computer and being able to send a text. (more…)

For those of you who were following it, it was a weird case, a suspicious case. For those of you who weren’t following it, it’s still a weird and suspicious case. Casey Anthony, a young mother of a 2 year old daughter first of all took 31 days to report her daughter Caylee’s disappearance, which happened on June 16, 2008.

This report followed a whole heap of lies, including accusing the babysitter of taking the child. Caylee’s body was found, decomposed, not far from her home.

Casey then behaved very coldly, oddly and callously following her child’s death. Odd to the extent of partying it up with friends and her boyfriend, and acting happy and free.

Finally it came to light that, according the Ms Anthony and her father, a former police officer, Caylee accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool, so they panicked and hid the body.

Is this strange? Well, the prosecution obviously thought so, but due to lack of  forensic evidence, no witnesses and a body so decomposed it was difficult to pinpoint cause of death, the jury found her not guilty.

Click here to read the whole story in the NY Times.

I must say, guilty or innocent, my blood runs cold at a parent being so seemingly uncaring. Perhaps it was shock, denial, or something more psychological, but I cannot fathom hiding the fact your child died for a whole month – especially if that death was accidental.

Whatever happened I don’t think we’ll ever know. But this case does drive home the fact that protecting your children is of paramount importance, and I am thankful most of us are good parents.